Ruggedman

Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, professionally known as Ruggedman aka Ruggedy Baba, is a pioneering Nigerian rapper, record producer, and humanitarian. He revolutionized Nigerian hip-hop in the early 2000s with his track "Ehen part 1 . "The scathing diss track called out prominent rappers of the era for what he perceived as unoriginality and poor lyrical skills , shifting the industry's focus to original content." Earning it the tag of "The most controversial & impactful diss track out of Nigeria". With his 2nd monster hit "Ruggedy Baba" he preached that Nigerian rappers & singers need to infuse our local languages in order to give our music a face. Thereby laying the blueprint for hits you hear today in Nigerian local languages. He released his debut studio album, "Thy Album Come" in 2002, which featured classics like "Baraje", Big Bros and "Peace or War." This was followed by his sophomore album, "Ruggedy Baba," in 2006, which cemented his status as a leading Nigerian artist. Ruggedman’s legacy is defined by his courage to challenge the status quo, which helped pave the way for other rappers and singers that came after him. Beyond music, he is an outspoken humanitarian and a leading voice against police brutality, advocating for reform and remains a key figure in modern Nigerian music. His impact is undeniably fundamental to the structure of modern Nigerian music today.